Difficulty: Medium

Average Score: 50%

What is true of meiosis?

Rationale

Meiosis produces four daughter cells.

Meiosis is a specialized type of cell division that results in the formation of four genetically distinct daughter cells, each with half the number of chromosomes of the original parent cell. This process is essential for sexual reproduction and contributes to genetic diversity through recombination and independent assortment.

A (Meiosis produces four daughter cells.) CORRECT

This statement is correct because meiosis involves two rounds of cell division (meiosis I and meiosis II), resulting in four non-identical haploid daughter cells from one diploid parent cell. Each of these cells has half the chromosome number, which is crucial for sexual reproduction.

B (The number of chromosomes present in the parent cell is maintained in the daughter cells.) YOUR ANSWER

This statement is incorrect because meiosis reduces the chromosome number by half. A diploid parent cell (2n) divides to produce haploid daughter cells (n), ensuring that when fertilization occurs, the chromosome number is restored in the zygote.

C (The daughter cells that result from meiosis are diploid.) YOUR ANSWER

This choice is incorrect as the daughter cells produced by meiosis are haploid, not diploid. The reduction in chromosome number is a defining feature of meiosis, allowing for the combination of genetic material during fertilization, which restores the diploid state in the offspring.

D (The daughter cells that result from meiosis are identical.) YOUR ANSWER

This statement is false because the daughter cells produced through meiosis are not identical; they are genetically distinct due to processes such as crossing over and independent assortment. This genetic variation is a key advantage of sexual reproduction.

Conclusion

Meiosis is a critical process in sexual reproduction, resulting in four genetically diverse haploid daughter cells from a single diploid parent cell. Understanding the unique characteristics of meiosis, such as the reduction in chromosome number and the production of non-identical cells, is fundamental to grasping how genetic diversity is achieved in sexually reproducing organisms.

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